For his "To Our Readers" message in China Today?s commemorative 50th anniversary issue, Huang Zu'an, president and editor-in-chief of the magazine, chose as his title, "Glory and Dreams." I think it appropriate to use the title once more for this article as today?s China prospers and the magazine celebrates its 50th birthday.
Glory -- An Outstanding Pioneering Effort in International Communications
China Today was founded under the name China Reconstructs in January 1952 in a traditional courtyard residence at 16 Dacaochang Lane in Beijing, once the home of a Qing Dynasty princess. From the very beginning, the magazine had a noble mission -- to tell the world about China's true situation. During the country?s early years of isolation and a perilous political environment, great hopes were placed in this magazine.
Looking back, the decision by new China to participate in international communications was both fortunate and wise. Zhou Enlai -- one of the founders of the People's Republic and its first premier ? as a great diplomat wanted to publish a magazine that would be able to break the stranglehold of Western press domination to tell the world about the real situation in China. And as a founder of the magazine, Soong Ching Ling, regarded as one of great women of the 20th century, had accumulated rich experience in international communications through her life-long pursuit of international peace and friendship. With the respect and esteem of both Chinese and peace-loving people of the West, Soong Ching Ling brought unique strengths to a foreign language magazine aimed at international communications.
Soong Ching Ling entrusted the work of establishing China Reconstructs to Jin Zhonghua and Chen Hansheng. Jin Zhonghua was a famous social activist, an expert in international communications, vice mayor of Shanghai, and her friend of long standing. Chen Hansheng had studied in the USA and Germany, and had obtained a master's degree from Chicago University, and a PhD from Berlin University. He excelled in English, German and Russian, and had worked as editor for the Far East Bulletin in Hong Kong. Soong Ching Ling believed his versatility and experience eminently qualified him for this job. Mme. Soong also invited Israel Epstein, a prominent journalist from the United States, to act as executive editor. Epstein?s wife, Elsie Fairfax-Cholmeley, was engaged as a main advisor to the magazine. Li Boti, who had returned to China from the United States and worked as a reporter for the Tianjin branch of the Xinhua News Agency, became editor. It was through the help and efforts of these people that China Reconstructs embarked on its mission of international communication.
Knowing all too well the importance of a foreign publishing enterprise and its potential effect on international communications, Zhou Enlai and Soong Ching Ling saw to it that China Reconstructs had a editorial board well suited to its mission. In addition to Jin Zhonghua and Chen Hansheng, the board also included Qian Duansheng, a well-known jurist; Li Dequan, a social activist and wife of the famous patriot and general, Feng Yuxiang; Liu Hongsheng, a notable entrepreneur; Wu Yifang, the educator; and Wu Yaozong, a devout Christian. Shen Suru in his "China's International Communications -- A Theoretical Study" commented on the qualities of these people:
"All enjoy high prestige both at home and abroad. They represent various walks of life, and are not leaders in the Communist Party of China. Soong Ching Ling herself enjoys high status nationally and internationally. All this enables China Reconstructs, as the principal medium of international communication, to have wide-ranging appeal and to establish an affinity with diverse nationalities."
In 1958, after reading China Reconstructs, Chairman Mao Zedong commented, "China Reconstructs speaks through facts. This is how it should be for our overseas publicity." Other great names associated with the magazine include Zhou Enlai who gave China Reconstructs its guideline on editorial principles when he said to "continue conscientiously to promote understanding and friendship among the peoples of various countries." Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Chen Yi pointed out to us that, "Facts are irrefutable, only truth can convince. By relating our real circumstances to friends worldwide, China Reconstructs contributes to world peace." Liao Chengzhi reminded members of the editorial board, "Always remember that Soong Ching Ling is the founder of China Reconstructs. You should therefore respect her leadership, and learn from her writing style."
At that time domestic printing conditions and the quality of paper were poor, according to Lu Ping, currently vice-chairman of the China Welfare Institute and a former deputy editor-in-chief of China Reconstructs as well as a former director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. The central authorities consequently approved the import of copper-plate, paper, and ink. For the three difficult years (1960-1962), China experienced difficulties in finance and material supplies, but the funds allocated to China Reconstructs were guaranteed. Later, a domestic paper mill experimented in making copper-plate paper, but lacked a key component. Therefore, the state allocated foreign exchange for the importation of this material to guarantee the printing quality of China Reconstructs.
China Reconstructs was welcomed by readers abroad, and the circulation steadily increased, becoming the only magazine to enter the American market and available at local book stalls, enabling foreign readers to obtain up-to-date reports on new China.
In 1958, the offices of China Reconstructs moved to the building complex of what is now known as the China International Publishing Group. At that time, the domestic political situation was tense, and publications and journals were redolent with the principle of "class struggle," but China Reconstructs kept to its fine tradition of speaking through facts.
When China Reconstructs celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1962, Soong Ching Ling, Zhou Enlai, Chen Yi, and Liao Chengzhi came to the magazine?s headquarters to offer their congratulations, causing a sensation. At the celebratory gathering, the state leaders' instructions on the "political and artistic nature" of international communications offered the basic tenet on which China Reconstructs worked during the ensuing difficult years. Even today, it is an important guide to comrades engaged in international communications.
It is significant that during the decade-long turmoil of the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976), when many publications and periodicals were suspended, China Reconstructs was able to continue. It was thus possible to record those years. For half a century, the magazine has advanced with the times. Following the principle set by Soong Ching Ling, it has truthfully recorded the achievements and changes in various fields, including economics, society and culture, conveying a positive image of China, and promoting friendship among the people of various countries. It is known as a "window" and "bridge" within China's international communications.
Dreams -- Advancing with the Times and Creating the Future
Throughout its fifty-year evolution, China Today has known many past glories. However, the magazine can maintain its vigor and vitality only through continuously striving and advancing with the times.
During the 50-year course of reporting splendid achievements and gratifying changes, China Today has developed from a bimonthly English magazine to a multi-language (English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese) monthly magazine, with a readership in 150 countries and regions of the world. In January 1990, according to the wishes of Soong Ching Ling, China Reconstructs changed its name to China Today, a title more appropriate to its purpose. To increase its competitiveness, in the year 2000 the Chinese and English editions of China Today began to be printed in full color, taking as their motto: "Focus on China, report on the present, and look to the future." China Today also started digital versions on the Internet, in Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Arabic and German, providing a "fast lane" of information on today's China.
On the eve of the 50th birthday of China Today, Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and president of the People's Republic of China, sent a congratulatory message, affirming the 50-year development of the magazine and expressing best wishes for the future. Other leaders, including Li Ruihuan, also sent congratulatory messages, as did dignitaries of various countries and several old friends abroad.
For a magazine, fifty years is a long time. Over the past half century, China Today has consolidated a fine tradition of truthful reporting, speaking through facts, taking people's lives as the theme of its reports, and reciprocal communication with its readers, all of which are the foundations for continued advancement.
New trends in the modern world, along with changing tastes of readers, bring new challenges to China Today. According to Israel Epstein, editor-in-chief emeritus, "Our reporting, editing and promotion of circulation -- all three, should be in tune with China's growing position in the world." This is a very high expectation. The entire staff of China Today must work hard to increase the capacity for publishing and distribution, and take the brand-name, internationalization and conglomeration road. Our goal, within three to five years, is to make China Today a periodical that is a center of international communications. Only by doing so can we accomplish our mission.
Talking about the future of China Today, President and Editor-in-Chief Huang Zu'an said, "The future is in our hands, and hopes and challenges co-exist. Under the new situation created by China?s entering the WTO, the different media face fiercer competition. But the situation also creates new conditions for the development of the mass media. As the sole multi-language monthly magazine, we should widen our range of publication and distribution with local editions for targeted countries. We can go out and report on China from a wider international background. Our readers may then hear China's footsteps as she walks towards the world, and know the trend of world development through reading China Today. Beyond the challenges, there is abundant hope."
(china.org.cn January 18, 2002)
